Governor Soludo Declares End of Monday Sit-at-Home in Southeast

Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has declared that the long-running Monday sit-at-home across the South-East has effectively come to an end.

The governor made the remark on Monday while speaking at the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026, where he explained that he arrived late to the event after being caught in traffic in Onitsha, Anambra State.

According to Soludo, the traffic situation on a Monday was a clear indication that residents and businesses were gradually returning to normal life after years of disruptions linked to the sit-at-home exercise.

The Monday sit-at-home began in parts of the South-East following calls by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which sought the release of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and the actualisation of Biafra.

Over the years, the exercise severely affected commercial activities, transportation, education and public services across the region.

Speaking at the summit, Soludo said the situation had changed significantly.

“I’m sorry I came in about 15 minutes late because I was stuck in traffic at Onitsha. Today is a Monday, and to have traffic at Onitsha on a Monday, the Monday sit-at-home is over,” the governor said.

He also used the opportunity to commend Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for hosting the summit and driving economic initiatives in the state.

“I’m here in solidarity with you and my rich neighbour, Delta State. You have a governor in whom I’m well pleased any day, anytime,” Soludo stated.

The governor added that he had to adjust his official schedule to attend the event.

“I had to move my executive council meeting Today to tomorrow or next because this is very important and I’m very delighted to be here,” he said.

The declaration by Soludo at the Delta investment summit is not the first time the governor has publicly insisted that the era of Monday sit-at-home is ending in Anambra State.

On February this year, the governor personally led a walk through the Onitsha Main Market to demonstrate that businesses could safely operate on Mondays.

The visit came amid efforts by his administration to restore full economic activities in the commercial city and encourage traders to reopen their shops.

During the exercise, Soludo moved through several sections of the market, interacting with traders and residents while urging them not to allow fear to dictate their economic decisions.

Addressing traders at the time, the governor maintained that the continued observance of the sit-at-home had become harmful to the South-East economy and no longer served its original purpose.

He argued that the exercise had evolved into what he described as economic sabotage against the people of the region.

A few days earlier, on January this year, Soludo had also addressed market leaders and stakeholders in Awka, where he questioned the continued enforcement of the sit-at-home order.

According to him, the exercise was no longer connected to the objective for which it was initially introduced.

The governor said: “The sit-at-home no longer serves Nnamdi Kanu’s interest.”

He further argued that criminal groups had taken advantage of the situation to instil fear among residents and disrupt legitimate economic activities.

On January, Soludo equally declared that there was “No going back” on his administration’s decision to end Monday sit-at-home in Anambra.

At the time, he insisted that the state could no longer tolerate what he described as a deliberate attempt to weaken commerce and investment in the state.

The governor also disclosed that he had previously met with Nnamdi Kanu after assuming office and claimed that the IPOB leader had distanced himself from the continued enforcement of the Monday shutdown.

More recently, during his second-term inauguration ceremony in Awka on March 17, 2026, Soludo again declared that the sit-at-home had become a thing of the past in Anambra.

Speaking before a gathering of political leaders and dignitaries, he said:

“The debilitating sit-at-home is over. Our schools, markets, businesses, and public servants are back to work.”

He added: “I’m sure many of you flew into Anambra yesterday, being Monday. Previously, that was not possible.”